“Christmas! How dare you bring that up now! You’re worse than the department stores!” you may be growling. Well, maybe I am worse than department stores, but today I would like to offer you an alternative to the yearly holiday maddening crowds as well as the oft-overwhelming expense of showing our appreciation for our loved ones.

The First Floor of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is hosting a book display with myriad ideas for making gifts and getting your home ready for the holidays. How does an evening making Chocolate-Vanilla Parfait Cream Soap sound? Or, if you like to burn things, bring back the lost art of pyrography. Then, spice up your house while making Spicy Clove Candles. Here are a few other items on the display and call numbers to assist in finding similar titles in the library: